Music director Bappi Lahiri changes tune, joins BJP

By PTI |Posted 31-Jan-2014

Bappi Lahiri, popularly known as 'Bappi Da', along with a host of TV personalities joined BJP on Friday

New Delhi: Veteran Hindi music director of 'Disco Dancer' fame, Bappi Lahiri, and a few other film and TV personalities joined BJP on Friday in the presence of party president Rajnath Singh in New Delhi.

Lahiri, the flamboyant music director known for wearing heavy gold ornaments, cheered for BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and insisted there is a wave in favour of the right-wing party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Incidentally, Lahiri had campaigned for Congress in 2004.

Bappi Lahiri

Breaking into a song, Lahiri said, "Rajnathji's dream will come true. Modi will create some magic."

When asked why he has joined BJP when he had campaigned for Congress in the past, Lahiri said, "Ten years back, there was a wave in their (Congress) favour. The wave has now changed. The wave is now here."

The BJP president said it will soon be decided what role Lahiri will play in the party and whether he will contest the polls.

He, however, mentioned that Lahiri is from West Bengal – perhaps an indication that his services may be used in the state where BJP hardly has a political presence.

Others who joined the party are Tuhin Sinha who wrote TV serial 'Yeh Rista Kya Kehlata Hai' and co-authored former party president Nitin Gadkari's book 'India Aspires', Prashant Narayan who acted in 'Murder-2', TV actress Ashima Sharma who is also a former president of Jodhpur University Students Union, Sachindra Sharma, writer of children series 'My Friend Ganesha', TV actor Gaurav Chopra and script-writer Rajiv Dhamija.

Bengal BJP wants Bappi Da to contest LS poll from state

Kolkata: The BJP in West Bengal said that it wanted noted music director and singer Bappi Lahiri, who joined the party on Friday, to contest the coming Lok Sabha elction from the state.

"There will be good response in the state. Filmstar Mithun Chakrabarty has recently joined another party (TMC). Bappi Lahiri is an eminent personality. We have suggested 2 to 3 seats for him," state BJP president Rahul Sinha said.

He, however, refused to reveal the names of the seats.

Sinha said that they were very eager for Bappi Lahiri to contest the Lok Sabha poll from the state.

When asked if he would contest the election, Bappi Lahiri told a TV channel that he would abide by the decision of the party. "I will do whatever the party will say", he said.